Bass shows progress toward return to Astros

ST. PETERSBURG -- Not much information has come from the Astros recently about injured relievers Matt Albers and Anthony Bass, both of whom have been rehabbing in Kissimmee, Fla. But Astros manager Bo Porter on Friday said Bass was close to his first rehab game.

Bass, who has been out since May 11 with a right intercostal strain, threw live batting practice on Thursday.

"The fact he got on the mound lets me know he's close to getting on a rehab," Porter said. "I've never been one to care much about a Major League guy rehabbing that was there for injury purposes. I'm more concerned about his oblique not hindering him to be able to throw all of his pitches, cover the bases and do all the things in which he would need to do.

"If he's able to do that, we would love to get him back here. He was a major part of our bullpen before he went down with that injury."

Albers has been out since April 22 with right shoulder tendinitis. He is expected back with the club on Tuesday in Houston to continue his rehab.

"When he first went out, no, I didn't think it would be this long," Porter said. "When you start to talk about pitchers and arms and shoulders, they can always be tricky because they can think they feel one thing, but now they get through the process after you give them some time off and end up taking a little bit longer than you anticipated."